Oregon's Senate Committee on Human Services convened on March 11, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to Senate Bill 135, aimed at enhancing the representation of children's voices in the child welfare system. The proposed measure will require certain advisory councils and committees to include a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) in their membership, a move designed to better integrate the perspectives of children affected by abuse and neglect into critical discussions.

The bill's primary goal is to ensure that CASAs, who advocate for the best interests of children, are present in conversations that shape policies and practices within the child welfare system. Amendments to the bill, developed in collaboration with the CASA network and child abuse assessment centers, will clarify that participation is discretionary, allowing CASA staff to join rather than requiring the attendance of all current or former advocates.

Chris Hinkle, staff attorney for the Oregon CASA Network, emphasized the importance of this inclusion, noting that while the network supports the initiative, it faces significant budget constraints that limit its capacity to provide representatives for every committee. Hinkle highlighted the ongoing challenge of underfunding, which affects the recruitment and retention of qualified staff and volunteers necessary to meet the demand for CASA services.

The committee also discussed the role of county multidisciplinary teams, which not only handle individual case staffing but also develop community protocols for sharing information to support at-risk children. The inclusion of CASA representatives in these teams is seen as a way to address systemic issues within the child welfare system.

As the bill progresses, the committee's discussions underscore a commitment to amplifying children's voices in Oregon's child welfare policies, while also highlighting the need for adequate funding to support these vital advocacy efforts. The next steps will involve further refinement of the bill and consideration of the funding requests to ensure that CASAs can effectively participate in these essential conversations.